Sri Lanka to receive 47 new ambulances through ADB assistance

By The Pulseline News Desk

Sri Lanka is expected to receive 47 new ambulances through loan assistance from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) as the Government moves to address a nationwide shortage of ambulances within the next two to three years.

Minister of Health and Mass Media Nalinda Jayatissa told Parliament on Tuesday (3) that the additional ambulances are expected to be obtained next year under the ADB-funded assistance programme.

He has said the Government was working towards resolving the existing shortage over the next two to three years, while taking steps to improve the efficiency and accessibility of emergency ambulance services across the country.

The Minister has also revealed plans to establish an independent ambulance service system islandwide, based on the model currently operating in the Nuwara Eliya District.

Under the Nuwara Eliya model, the ambulance service operates independently of the conventional health sector structure. The Government intends to introduce a similar arrangement across the country to improve the management and delivery of emergency transport services.

Jayatissa has said work was also progressing on the information technology component of the proposed system, with efforts focused on addressing existing operational shortcomings and improving service efficiency.

The planned IT improvements are expected to support better coordination and management of ambulance services, alongside the proposed expansion of the independent ambulance network.

The Government’s initiative comes amid efforts to strengthen emergency healthcare infrastructure and ensure that patients have timely access to ambulance services, particularly when urgent medical transportation is required.

While the 47 ambulances expected through ADB assistance will provide additional capacity, the proposed islandwide independent service system is intended to address broader operational and management challenges affecting ambulance services.

The Government expects the combined measures to help overcome the country’s ambulance shortage over the next two to three years.